One of the worst items that can appear your credit report is a vehicle repossession. This is especially true if you’re looking to finance another vehicle. Depending upon the circumstances, however, there may be ways to prevent this from happening and, even if it occurs, to re-claim your vehicle.

For most people with bad credit, the process of buying a car is nearly the opposite of the traditional car buying process.

Simply put, the record of a request for your credit report is called a credit inquiry. But there are two types of credit inquiries, and one can affect your credit score by lowering it a few points, while the other will have no effect on your score at all.

Looking at the options borrowers with poor credit may have if they need a car, have been turned down by traditional lenders, and can’t pay for a vehicle in cash.

If you’ve been turned down for a subprime car loan and have a down payment either with a trade-in or in cash, shopping for a vehicle at a buy here pay here car lot can be great for getting the vehicle you need right now. But if you’re looking for a deal, or, in many cases, for a way to improve your credit, financing a car at one of these dealerships may not be the way to go.

While each lender is free to interpret what constitutes bad credit versus good credit, there are some basic guidelines that most follow when evaluating a loan applicant.

If your credit is less than perfect and you’ve been turned down for a car loan with a conventional lender, you may have more of a better choice than a buy here pay here car lot.